Cowell said: "I was talking to someone about this, who was at the screening the other night, and they put it very well. She looked a bit bewildered. Not everyone is like you, Piers; you come to a country like America, it's a big deal, it takes a while to adjust."

He continued: "I took the view along with a few other people that she would have been more comfortable back in the UK. Because it was public, of course. I think if she had taken the UK gig, nobody would be feeling bad right now.

"That's what you have to do when you produce - you have to make decisions in the moment, and I take full responsibility for it."

Scherzinger added that she had not worked with Cole "that much" during the 28-year-old's time on the panel, but told Morgan that she thought she was a "gorgeous girl, very charming".

"For me it was an honour," she said of taking up the vacant position. "I'm not going to lie, I cried when Simon told me. I felt like no matter where he had me on the show, I was going to be of service and do the best that I could."